China’s birth rate fell to a record low in 2025, official data showed on Monday. The country recorded just 7.92 million births, a rate of 5.63 per 1,000 people, marking the lowest China’s birth rate since 1949, when the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) began keeping records.
This decline comes despite government efforts to encourage families to have more children. Beijing has introduced policies including childcare subsidies, marriage incentives, and even reducing taxes on certain family planning measures. Authorities are concerned about a rapidly aging population and shrinking workforce.
Over the past decade, China’s birth rate has been steadily declining. Even after the end of the one-child policy, birth numbers remained low. There was a slight increase in 2024, when 6.77 births per 1,000 people were recorded, but the 2025 data shows the downward trend has continued.
Marriage rates are also at historic lows. Many young couples cite high costs of raising children and career pressures as reasons for delaying or avoiding parenthood. Experts warn that these trends may worsen population challenges in the coming decades.
Meanwhile, deaths in China exceeded births. In 2025, the country recorded 11.31 million deaths, a mortality rate of 8.04 per 1,000. This has led to a net population decline of 2.41 per 1,000, signaling a continued shrinking population.
Officials have emphasized the importance of reversing the trend in China’s birth rate. Policies aimed at boosting fertility focus on financial incentives, childcare support, and promoting work-life balance to encourage families to have more children.
Demographers note that if birth rates remain low, China could face severe economic and social challenges, including labor shortages, increased healthcare costs, and pressure on pension systems. The 2025 figures underline the urgency for effective measures to support young families and reverse population decline.
China now faces a critical demographic moment as the world watches how its population policies and economic strategies respond to a record low birth rate.
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